“However, administrative laws, which ensure the quality of religious lives, are within the jurisdiction of the major supervisor. He said that the Society of Jesus still has the means to ensure the highest standards for its ministry.
Verschueren stated that we don’t require the outcomes of the penal process to take preventive actions. “And even if DDF’s focus points are declared inexpedient, this does not change our legal (administrative perspective). In order to provide maximum security for God’s people, appropriate, just, and effective measures can be taken.
A Jesuit bishop confirms the basis for referral
Rupnik, an internationally renowned artist, is responsible for projects in the Apostolic Palace of the Vatican, the Knights of Columbus National Shrine of John Paul II in Washington, D.C., the Cathedral of Santa Maria la Real de Almudena, Madrid, as well as the Fatima Shrine.
Rupnik designed the logo of the Jubilee of Mercy, which Pope Francis called Dec. 8, 2015, and created the official image of World Meeting of Families in 2022.
Rupnik and Sister Ivanka Hasta were involved in the founding, in the early 1990s of the Loyola Community of Ljubljana in Slovakia, a women’s institute of religious life.
Following apparent conflicts with Sister Hosta in 1993, the Jesuit priest quit the Loyola Community and headed to Rome along with several nuns to establish the Aletti Center. It was dedicated towards the promotion of religious art and its connection to Ignatian spirituality.
Ex-members of the Loyola Community contacted the Holy See in 2020 to report coercion and control abuses they had experienced since Rupnik’s time as the community’s chaplain.
The Vatican then appointed Daniele Libanori, a Jesuit bishop and auxiliary bishop in Rome, as the apostolic commissioner. Libanori learned of Rupnik’s sexual abuse allegations during his investigation.
Libanori, in a Dec. 9 statement to ACI Prensa stated that Rupnik was handled by the DDF.
“When a case becomes known, the authority that the complainant refers to sends it on to the ordinary of any subject to be investigated. Libanori stated that after the investigation has been completed, the findings must be sent the competent dicastery which must then decide how to proceed.” ACI Prensa was also informed by Libanori.
(The story continues below)
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“The Society of Jesus did all it was expected to do and, to ensure there was no appearance of inpropriety,” he stated. This refers to a Dominican religious who interviewed multiple people.
He said, “As to the competent dicastery,” he stated.
Libanori stated that it was not secret that a Loyola Community commissioner had been appointed. He said that “The appointment of a Loyola Community Commissioner has been made publicly in the appropriate forum, which is the Church.” “I personally informed all the bishops in whose diocesan dioceses there is an institute.
Are Rupnik restrictions being respected?
Another question related to the Rupnik case involves whether the Society of Jesus measures imposed upon the priest are being observed.
Rupnik was forbidden from performing the Spiritual Exercises, and was also prohibited from participating in public activities without the consent of his local superior.